Supporting Jess’s Pregnancy Journey with Marfans

Update from Jess: On Thursday my cardiologist and a thoracic surgeon sent me to Houston to be admitted to the cardiovascular ICU. I have a second aneurysm on my aorta that is growing rapidly. I am still in the ICU waiting to hear if I need to have surgery now or if I can stay and be under observation for a little while to give our baby a chance to get a little bigger. If I do have surgery there is a 40-50% chance our lil peanut will make it. It’s better than nothing, but it still makes me insanely anxious for him. It is incredibly scary not knowing what is to come, but I am truly in the best hands. I have a cardiologist, OBGYN, and thoracic surgery team (that are all familiar with Marfans Syndrome) watching over me very carefully. Please send love, positivity, and prayers our way.

Our dear friend, Jess DeShazer, who battles the challenges of Marfan syndrome, has recently received the joyful news that she is pregnant. However, in the midst of this exciting time, she faces an alarming predicament: finding an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) who will provide her with the necessary prenatal care due to her medical disability and paying the enormous out-of-pocket costs for this specialty care.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the connective tissue which provides support for the body and organs. Marfan syndrome can damage the blood vessels, heart, eyes, skin, lungs, and the bones of the hips, spine, feet, and rib cage. Jess has been on disability since November of 2022, awaiting double hip replacement, spinal surgery due to severe stenosis, and a stent in her aorta. All are procedures that will now have to wait until after her child is born. She will be put in a wheelchair when financially able due to the condition of her hips and spine. The mental, physical and emotional toll has been exhausting on both Jess and her husband, to say the least.

Being pregnant with Marfan’s is challenging enough, but now, due to changes in state laws regarding fetuses, Jess has been unable to find an OB/GYN who is knowledgeable about Marfan syndrome AND willing to provide care. Jess has consulted with several OB/GYNs in Texas that refuse to take her case due to enhanced legal pressures from the state. The State of Texas, as you know, has expanded the legal jeopardy that patients and professionals alike face in the loss of a fetus, no matter the cause. The lack of specialized medical attention because the Texas medical community is afraid of potential lawsuits leaves Jess and her unborn child vulnerable to illness or worse.

Your contribution to this campaign will serve two purposes. First, it will enable Jess to seek out and travel to specialists who are well-versed in Marfan syndrome and its implications during pregnancy. Secondly, it will assist Jess in covering the costs associated with specialized prenatal care she needs, including consultations, medical tests, and any necessary adjustments or accommodations required to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy for both mother and child.

Please share this campaign on your social networks. Please reach out to any connections you may have within the medical community who may be able to offer Jess guidance and support. Let us come together, united by empathy and determination, to ensure that no pregnant woman is denied the essential medical care that all of us deserve. Your support will help Jess fulfill her dream of motherhood by safeguarding her health and the well-being of her unborn child.